Hey! We got our first review from a friend and loyal fan. And we didn't even pay him! Really.
"The Fritz played to a house of hardcore supporters and easily converted newcomers last night at Seattle's Studio 7 in SoDo. For those who were lucky enough to have seen Midwest, the now-dissolved band which featured three of the four member of the Fritz lineup, the show was no disappointment. Singer Aaron Wald's voice sounds stronger and better than ever and his stage presence remains quirky and engaging, though his trademark manic randomness has apparently been toned down a bit (fans can judge whether this is good or bad). Bassist Duane and Drummer Shane both performed flawlessly, delivering solid support for an evening of Midwest favorites and new material. Duane's playing is deft, complex, and suprisingly reliable in light of his legions of underage female fans offering visual distractions of the typical, crude rock-show variety. Shane's work, always the backbone of the band, appeared confident and strong, particularly with the newer material. Jason Finn and Tad Hutchison would have been proud by the thrashing he gave his kit, especially during the hilarious, yet solid, 'Tacoma Grunge Man.' Emerging from behind his set to sing briefly in a cover of the Flaming Lips' 'Vaseline,'' was a welcome chance to see the usually-hidden band member get a little well-deserved spotlight. Lastly, the newest addition to the lineup is Jen Bailey, sharing lead vocal and guitar duties with Aaron and bringing some tangible heat to the stage (sorry, Duane), her influence on the band's musical direction is noticeable, particularly in such songs as the sensual and coquettish 'Come out and play,' and the aforementioned, 'Tacoma grunge man.' Her vocal contribution to older songs ranged from solid to exceptional, providing a perfect counterpoint to Wald's voice in places and harmonizing equally well with him in others. Her most notable addition, at least in last night's show, was her stage presence and rapport with the audience. Making eye contact and engaging with fans on the floor and in the balcony, she was able to exude that kind of presence that reaches out and draws in the audience; we're talking about the kind that results in newcomers becoming diehard fans (and probably the kind that results in fan websites). Overall, the show was a great debut for the band and it's good to see the boys -and girl!- back on the stage again."
I just wanted to drop a note in this little blog space to say thanks to the die-hard fans that came out for last night's show - sheeeesh, Monday nights are tough! You guys rock soooo much, even more than the Rendezvous fish-n-chips!
